Chico >> With citizens debating whether a link exists between genetically modified organisms and human health, the Chico City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to direct staff to prepare a resolution in support of federal and state regulations for labeling GMO food.

Citizen Loretta Torres questioned the existence of actual scientific evidence that links GMOs to illness, and citizen Michael Jones quoted Wikipedia to say there is broad scientific consensus that food grown from GMO crops provides no risk to human health. He added that GMOs will be necessary for feeding the world's growing population and preventing starvation.

Other citizens disagreed.

"This is a microcosm of the world of swirling mythology of GMOs," said Emily Alma. "Monsanto, which is the real Pied Piper leading people by the nose to think all these amazing things — greater yields, ending starvation — these things are mythology. I know a lot of people believe them but it's been proven not to be so."

Councilor Sean Morgan said to take up the issue of GMOs is a waste of staff time because the city's resolution won't make a difference at the federal and state level.

"Any action we ask them to take is unlikely to be met by more than a casual reading," he said, adding that those concerned with GMOs can eat organic.

Councilor Tami Ritter disagreed.

"Like fluoridation, like vaccination, we have a right to know ... We have a choice whether to give them to our children," she said. "We are not voting tonight to ban GMOs. We are voting to say we have a right to know."

Citizen John Salyer questioned whether the city has better issues to worry about.

"I feel like this is a bit of pandering," he said. "How any people here are really concerned about the financial situation the city is in, and we are talking about plastic bags and GMOS?"

The council also voted 5-2 with Morgan and Sorensen dissenting to direct staff to prepare amendments to the Chico Municipal Code related to nondiscrimination. The changes came at the request of the Hate Crimes Task Force of the Stonewall Alliance Center.

"This is not about hurt feelings or personal offense," said Rev. Jim Peck. "It's about organized behavior that stops something from happening."

Morgan again said he thought such an action was a waste of staff time and that any necessary protections fall under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Other councilors and some citizens disagreed, saying it was necessary to codify city policy to ensure everyone is treated with respect.

"Equality shouldn't be left for debate, for negotiation," said citizen Kaly Moore. "It is beyond me why these equalities are not already in play. It's time that we break old patterns and cultivate new world views."

The Chico Council also went forward 5-2 with introducing the plastic bag ban for a second time, correcting a typo missed the first time around that imposes time limits on when stores can provide reusable bags for free to customers.

Morgan remarked that he thinks it is "borderline criminal" that so much time has been spent on the plastic bag ordinance.

"The only thing to make it more ridiculous is to keep bringing it up," he said, before voting against its introduction.

The regulations prohibiting single-use plastic carryout bags would take effect Jan. 1 for full-line, self-service grocery stores, big-box retail with grocery and retail stores with pharmacies. The regulation would extend Jan. 1, 2016, to convenience stores, food marts or other entities engaged in retail sale of a limited line of grocery goods.

The council also voted unanimously to approve an $18,000 supplemental appropriation for a police radio infrastructure assessment by Motorola. Administrative Services Director Chris Constantin said it's necessary to have the company that designed the system to come in as an expert and diagnose what is going wrong.

"This is our last line of defense," he said. "If these guys don't know how to do it when it's their equipment, I don't know what to tell you."

Mayor Scott Gruendl said the increasing failures of the radio system is a safety issue. The deficiencies are not a problem with dispatch computers but occur with officers' transmissions to dispatch and to other officers.

"I just want the radios to work so officers don't get hurt," said citizen Donna Shary, in her support of the expenditure.

Toward the meeting's end Public Works Director Ruben Martinez gave a brief update on the necessary repairs to Fire Station 5 to correct water intrusion and mold development. He said he will have more details and cost estimates at the next meeting.